Mussourie - a romantic getaway

Mussourie - a romantic getaway (20th & 21st Nov 2013)

Enjoying a ride - Mussourie

          

          As a part of my Uttarakhand itinerary, I was in Mussourie too. The journey from Duggalbita in Chopta to Mussourie was strenuous and I spent the whole day traveling, from 7 am to 9:30 pm. From wading like a directionless drifting boat in the curvy forest roads from my campsite in Dugalbitta to Ukhimath, traversing the dangerous roads from Ukhimath to Rudraprayag and then following the Ganga all the way to Rishikesh and then traveling the people infested city of Dehradun, the journey did tire me and tempt me to return back home. The last stretch from Dehradun to Mussourie was to be in a classic Ambassador. Our driver seemed to be greatly influenced species of the tortoise and he maneuvered his car at such a careful pace that a cyclist would have reached faster.

          As we were approaching our destination in the darkness of the night, the lights of Mussourie twinkled in the distance and it appeared as if someone had bought a series of the Diwali lights and had insouciantly neglected to arrange it. The map created by the shimmering lights looked like a moving amoeba changing shape and size with every curve that we left behind bringing us closer to the summit. Finally we reached and I checked in to my hotel, had a quick and awaited dinner and pushed of to sleep.

          I was put up at the Hotel Vishnu Palace which is near the Library House and offers a scenic view of the Gangotri glacier and the neighboring mountains and valleys from each window. I was pretty happy with the allocated room.

          Mussourie is a dainty town and still has some of the colonial feel to it. Like most hill stations, it has a Mall Road which is its prime attraction and shopping centre. And like most other hill stations like Shimla and Manali and Mahabaleshwar and Ooty, it is more for the newly wed honeymooners than solo travelers like me. Coming from a place like Chopta and having been so close to the snow clad mountains, the place didn’t interest me much and the only thing I did for 2 days is walk on the Camel Back road and shop a lot on the Mall Road. The weather was pleasantly cool and nights were colder. Evenings and mornings saw a mist engulfing the houses lining the hill and gave every reason to render a romantic look. Sharing and relishing a corn or munching on peanuts while the cycle rickshaw rider sweats out paddling, enjoying the vantage points to take in the scenery and posing for that early happy memory of married life, the possibility of long romantic walks holding hands with your loved one while sharing silly nothings, licking the icy ice-cream in an even icier weather, widening your mouth to gulp down that golgappa or go on a shopping spree for woolens, accessories and others or disappearing in the mist; Mussourie is a delight for the romantically inclined.

          I took it easy in Mussourie and laid back and relaxed. There are a few trekking options in Mussourie including the Nag Tibba trek and the Pari tibba trek. The Lal Tibba is the highest altitude point in Mussourie and the people boast of having celebrities like Tom Alter, Ruskin Bond as local residents. There is no dearth of staying options in Mussourie and each hotel has a nice view to offer, either the Himalayas or the Doon valley. It snows heavily during December and January, so be prepared if you happen to visit at this time.

Places of Interest in Mussourie

• Mall Road – The heart and veins of every hill station and Mussourie is no exception.
• Camel Back Road – It’s a nice walk along the circumference of the mountain and at the end of it, you come across an assortment of rocks in the distance on the top of the mountain which resemble a sitting camel. From here, you can get a telescopic view of Lal Tibba, Nag Mandir, the cross worshipped by lovers, the Gangotri peak etc. Also a great spot for bird watching and enjoying the valleys.
• Gun Hill – You can take a cable car ride from Mall Road to the Gun Hill point or trek to the Gun Hill point.
• Company Gardens – At a distance of few kms from the Mall Rod, to the other end, it is a garden that you can spend some time at
• Tibetan Market – Near Mall road having woolens on sale at a low price.

My room at Hotel Vishnu Palace

View from my window 

Gangotri glacier

Camel Back

Bringing things closer

 

Gangotri peak

North me South

The town of Mussourie

The Doon valley

The town of Mussourie

Camel Back Road

 

Eurasian Jay

Malabar Whistling Thrush

 

Keeping an eye - at Camel Back Road

Camels Back Road 

Camels Back Road

 

Camels Back Road

Church on the way to Mall Road

School

Tibetan Market